A strange, but true project called Homeless Hotspots has stirred up controversy over a plan by BBH Labs to turn the homeless in Austin, Texas into mobile wireless hotspots. The Homeless Hotspots project provides pay-for-Internet high speed wireless access for those in need, such as visitors to Austin’s legendary music festival, South by Southwest.
As part of the Homeless Hotspots program, a group of homeless Austin, Texas citizens were given Verizon mobile MiFi 4G devices and t-shirts declaring their names and the statement: “I am a 4G hotspot.” Then they were strategically placed outside of the SXSW music and technology conference. On the T-shirt of participant Melvin Hughes, the shirt reads: “SMS HH Melvin to 25827 for access.”
Continue reading Homeless Hotspots at South by Southwest Spark Controversy